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What we learned about the special teams unit through the first wave of free agency

Chris Brown

Bills Insider

Adam Hunger/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Buffalo's special teams unit made positive gains in 2019 under new coordinator Heath Farwell after a down 2018 campaign. But as general manager Brandon Beane said in the team's end of season press conference, they want to be better in that phase of the game.

Beane and his pro personnel staff made some clear steps to accomplish that already in free agency. Knowing the team was losing special teams stalwart Lorenzo Alexander to retirement and with four other special teamers set to become free agents, Buffalo struck early to refortify the core of Farwell's unit.

Cornerback | Josh Norman joins the Bills from Washington. Once considered one of the league's best cover corners, Norman will likely compete for a starting job opposite of Tre'Davious White this season.

Washington Redskins' Josh Norman reacts after a stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with DT Quinton Jefferson.

Jefferson, 26, joins the Bills from Seattle. The 6'4", 291 pound DT spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seahawks, starting during the last two.

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Seattle Seahawks' Quinton Jefferson reacts during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Seattle Seahawks' Quinton Jefferson, left, and Jadeveon Clowney, right, close in on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, center, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 21-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

John Froschauer/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Defensive Tackle | Media reports indicate that Vernon Butler has agreed to a deal with the Bills via free agency. He is regarded as being a very physical player, and should add some more "nasty" to the DL group.

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler (92) takes the field priore to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Brian Blanco/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with LB Tyler Matakevich.

Matakevich, 27, joins the Bills from Pittsburgh. The 6'1", 235 pound LB spent the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers and is regarding as one of the best tacklers on special teams in the league.

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Linebacker | Reports have indicated that Tyler Matakevich will join the Bills as a free agent. A terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020.

Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with LB AJ Klein.

Klein, 28, joins the Bills from New Orleans. The 6'1", 240 pound LB comes to Buffalo after spending the previous 3 seasons with the Saints.

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New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) scores after an interception on Carolina Panthers quarterback Will Grier (3) during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Brian Blanco/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Linebacker | Reports have indicated that AJ Klein will join the Bills as a free agent. Another terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020 on special teams and defense.

New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints beat the Titans 38-28. (Cooper Neill via AP)

Cooper Neill

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New Orleans Saints linebacker A.J. Klein (53) lines up for the snap during an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings beat the Saints 26-20. (Matt Patterson via AP)

Matt Patterson/Matt Patterson

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New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) takes a defensive position during an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in New Orleans. The Saints defeated the Colts 34-7. (Margaret Bowles via AP)

Margaret Bowles

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Media reports indicate that Buffalo has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with RB Taiwan Jones.

Jones joins the Bills again after playing in Houston last season. He was a member of the Bills in 2018, and is regarded as a very good special teams player.

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Houston Texans running back Taiwan Jones rushes against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Buffalo Bills running back Taiwan Jones (26) in action during the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals game on August 26, 2018 at New Era Field.
Photo by Craig Melvin

Craig Melvin

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Taiwan Jones has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Bills. He is considered a very good special teams player and was with the team in 2018.

Houston Texans running back Taiwan Jones (34) runs during an NFL regular season football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Houston. The Titans won, 35-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)

Ric Tapia/AP2019

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Running Back | The media is reporting that Taiwan Jones is back in Buffalo after agreeing to a one-year deal. Jones is a very valuable special teams player, and was with the Bills in 2018.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) hands the ball off to running back Taiwan Jones (34) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Daryl Williams (60) lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Mike McCarn/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

Kiel Maddox/Kiel Maddox

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

Fresno State defensive back Mike Bell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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The Bills signed Mike Bell to a contract. A draft eligible player in 2019, Bell comes to the Bills from Fresno State.

Bell has added weight and will make the switch to linebacker after a productive career at Fresno State playing safety.

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Buffalo's kicking and punting operation is largely unchanged from last season, but the end of season addition of Vedvik was a good chance to add competition in the kicking game.

Vedvik can kick, punt and kickoff. Vedvik is a good kickoff specialist who hit his last 13 kickoffs for touchbacks in the 2019 preseason and regular season.

Hauschka had a tough stretch of games in the middle of the season, but rebounded nicely down the stretch hitting 13 attempts on the season including all four in the Wild Card playoff loss at Houston. That included a perfect 6-6 streak on kicks of 40 yards or more, the last of which was his clutch 47-yard attempt with five seconds left to force overtime in the playoff game.

No one in the league has more special teams tackles over the last four seasons than Matakevich, and Klein excelled as a special teams coverage player while with the Carolina Panthers. Klein led the Panthers in special teams tackles in 2015.

The Bills also re-signed Taiwan Jones, who in his first stint with the Buffalo was a special teams captain. Pairing the top end speed of Jones with Robert Foster, who was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent, gives coach Farwell a formidable duo of gunners to get down the field and cover punts.

And Buffalo's leading tackler on special teams last season, Siran Neal, figures to be a critical component of the cover teams again in 2020.

Linebacker | Reports have indicated that AJ Klein will join the Bills as a free agent. Another terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020 on special teams and defense.

New Orleans Saints outside linebacker A.J. Klein (53) at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints beat the Titans 38-28. (Cooper Neill via AP)

Cooper Neill

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Linebacker | Reports have indicated that Tyler Matakevich will join the Bills as a free agent. A terrific special teams player, he figures to be a big factor in 2020.

Taiwan Jones has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Bills. He is considered a very good special teams player and was with the team in 2018.

Houston Texans running back Taiwan Jones (34) runs during an NFL regular season football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Houston. The Titans won, 35-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)

Ric Tapia/AP2019

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Three questions moving forward?

Will Vedvik prove to be stiff competition for Bojorquez?

How will the depth at the receiver position potentially impact special teams when roster decisions are made?

Can Hauschka pick up where he left off late last season?

What could happen between now and training camp?

Buffalo figures to supplement the talent it already has for its special teams units with a later free agent additions or two.

The Bills have done a good job of developing their draft choices into special teams contributors the last few years with Siran Neal, Darryl Johnson and Jaquan Johnson some of the most recent examples. Look for that to continue with this year's draft class.

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